Tasmanian winemaker Alex Russell Wines will no longer be able to export wine from Australia after Wine Australia cancelled its export licence in a move to safeguard the reputation of Australia’s wine industry.
Despite Australia’s strong culture of compliance in the grape and wine sector, this is only the ninth licence to be suspended or cancelled in the last 10 years, with more than 2000 active licence holders nationwide.
The matter is currently subject to an ongoing investigation and Alex Russell Wines Pty Ltd is entitled to make an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision, in accordance with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.
A separate application for an export licence by Russell & Suitor Wines has also been refused by Wine Australia, with the business again in a position to apply for a review of the decision.
Without an export licence issued by Wine Australia, wine cannot be exported from Australia. While there are no concerns about health or safety for consumers of the wine, the decision was made by Wine Australia to protect Australia’s reputation overseas.